First-Ever Direct Image of an Exosolar System (image)

Caption

The HR 8799 planetary system is the first solar system beyond our own that astronomers directly imaged. Captured in 2008 using Keck Observatory's near-infrared adaptive optics, the picture revealed three planets (labeled 'b', 'c', and 'd') orbiting a dusty young star named HR 8799 (center). In 2010, the team announced they detected a fourth planet in the system (labeled 'e'). The HR 8799 system is located 129 light-years away from Earth.

Credit

NRC-HIA/C. MAROIS/W. M. KECK OBSERVATORY

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